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Tuesday, January 6, 2015

NJ Gov. Chris Christie Is the First Fan of Dallas

Chris Christie loves the Dallas Cowboys. Not only is he not ashamed of it, he wants you to know it.

Tossing any risks of political offense aside, the potential Republican candidate for president doesn't bother to cheer for any of the teams that would make more sense for the governor of New Jersey.

No, he's an over-the-top, awkward-hugging, lucky-sweater-wearing and sports-talk-show-calling fan of the self-proclaimed "America's Team." And he might just be scoring political points by sticking with his 'Boys rather than sailing fairer winds by pretending to care about the New York Giants or the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I think, if anything, it shows he's authentic ? him standing by his team," said Matt Moore, the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, who acknowledged owning a Cowboys jersey and helmet as a kid.

"True sports fans know what it's like to stand on couches and shout at the TV. We all get caught up in the moment," Moore said. "I don't know if it's anything more than being a super fan, but Gov. Christie's love of the Cowboys is definitely smart politics."

Christie's fanboy ways were again on display Sunday, when he was spotted gleefully celebrating the team's comeback win against the Detroit Lions in the NFL playoffs. He was hard to miss in owner Jerry Jones' box, wearing his sure-to-be-noticed orange good luck sweater, bouncing around and looking for a hug after the Cowboys' 24-20 wild-card victory.

It wasn't the first time Christie has shown up in Jones' box, nor the first time his display of affection for the team and its owner has drawn withering fire on social media and among radio talkers. Christie's high-five of Jones after the Cowboys beat the Philadelphia Eagles last month was seen by some in South Jersey and elsewhere as rubbing it in.

There's also the question of where Christie chooses to sit ? namely, with Jones, the billionaire owner of the Cowboys, who supplied the governor with transportation via private jet and a ticket to the game in his suite. It's the third time Christie has seen the game on Jones' tab, according to a Christie spokesman.

That left The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol to predict that when Dallas travels to Green Bay for their next playoff game, against the Packers on Sunday, he'd miss Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who is sure to sit in "the cheap seats & freeze with the common people" at Lambeau Field.

But the guy who fell in love with the Cowboys watching Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach does not care about your taunts.

His team, after all, is winning.

"I call it as I see it," Christie declared in mid-December on a South Jersey sports-talk station. "And I'm not going to be one of these politicians who changes their sports team loyalties just to score political points."

He added Monday morning: "Just because I'm governor of New Jersey doesn't mean that I change who I root for. That's it."

Didn't his antics risk votes in Michigan, home of the Lions and a state he'll likely need to carry to win the White House, should he win his party's nomination?

Perhaps, but Christie appears to be doubling down on his straight-talker image, making a calculated play that embracing his love of his team is a better way to win over votes than pandering to fans at home.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/nj-gov-chris-christie-fan-dallas-28021551

Cameron Diaz marries musician Benji Madden at their Beverly Hills home

Celebs

Randee Dawn TODAY contributor

1 hour ago

There's something about Cameron Diaz, and we know what it is: As of Monday night, the "Bad Teacher," "Annie" and "Something About Mary" actress is now a married woman!

Diaz tied the knot with Madden Brothers guitarist-singer Benji Madden at an intimate ceremony in their Beverly Hills home, a rep confirmed to People. It's the first marriage for both Diaz, 42, and Madden, 35.

"We couldn't be happier to begin our new journey together surrounded by our closest family and friends," the newlyweds said in a statement to People.

The couple started dating last May, and were engaged a few days before Christmas.

Diaz wasn't the only star sparkling at the gala, which was held on under a large tent festooned with white flowers and lit by candles. Her approximately 90 guests included Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Richie and bridesmaid Drew Barrymore.

Diaz's nephew Sparrow served as ring bearer, and Madden's twin Joel (who co-founded the band Good Charlotte with his brother) also attended.

A source told People that Diaz kept the big event on the QT by telling everyone she was having a pre-Golden Globes party (the Globes air on Jan. 11).

Diaz, who was linked to Justin Timberlake, Jared Leto and Alex Rodriguez over the years, has been quoted as saying she never felt a need to rush into marriage. She told Stylist magazine in 2010, "I think the big misconception in our society is that we're supposed to meet [the one] when we're 18 and we're supposed to get married to them and love them for the rest of our lives. Bull----."

Congratulations to the couple!

Follow Randee Dawn on Google+ and Twitter.

Source: http://www.today.com/popculture/cameron-diaz-marries-musician-benji-madden-their-beverly-hills-home-1D80406083

Share �Kevin Durant high on the Dion Waiters...�

Late Monday night, a disappointed Thunder locker room was still in the process of digesting an ugly 117-91 loss to the Warriors.

But at the same time, players were also still gathering all the facts surrounding the three-team trade that netted Dion Waiters as their new teammate. The deal actually didnt become official until the game had actually started.

But the news had spread. And Kevin Durant the voice of the Thunder was peppered with questions about it. Here were his answers:

Kevin, your initial thoughts on Dion and the trade?

Im excited about bringing Dion aboard. A guy that has a lot of toughness. Being from the East Coast, I know a lot about Philadelphia, South Philly, where he comes from. Those guys are tough and they play with an edge. And thats what we need here.

Any kind of relationship with him prior to this?

Just knowing him from playing against him. Were gonna make him feel wanted. I dont think he felt that the last couple years. Hes gonna fit in well. Hes gonna get comfortable real quick. Its on the leaders Russell, myself, Nick to make him feel at home and feel special and let him play his game.

Can he be James Harden-like for you guys?

Im not saying hes James replacement, were far past that. But, yeah, he can play, can come off the bench for us and score and make plays. Hes a really good player, man. A lot of people take him for granted, I think. Because hes been around and you hear different things about him thats not true. But he can play basketball. So he just needs to come out here and be himself, be aggressive and make plays.

Have you reached out to him yet?

Nah, probably gonna talk to him later on after this. Its pretty late on the East Coast, but Ill probably shoot him a text soon.

Source: http://newsok.com/kevin-durant-high-on-the-dion-waiters-trade-were-gonna-make-him-feel-wanted/article/5382168

Monday, January 5, 2015

Stuart Scott, Longtime ESPN Anchor, Dies At 49

Stuart Scott, one of the most recognizable anchors in 'Sportscenter' history, died of cancer at the age of 49, according to an ESPN press release. ESPN and everyone in the sports world have lost a true friend and a uniquely inspirational figure in Stuart Scott, said ESPN president John Skipper in the statement.

Scott, who had two daughters, was known for his boisterous, high-energy delivery and catchphrases like "booyah!" and "cool as the other side of the pillow." He had been public about his long fight with the disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2007. He remained highly active throughout his treatment, using mixed martial arts training to counteract the effects of chemotherapy.

After news of Scott's death broke, ESPN ran a 15-minute tribute to him. Watch below:

Galavant series premiere recap: 'Pilot'

Spoiler alert: EW lovesGalavantso much so that multiple writers wanted to take a stab at recapping it. Which is why resident musical-philes Hillary Busis and Esther Zuckerman decided to do a tag-team discussion of the fluffy comedy's first episode.

HILLARY: Let's talk about a showThat takes place long agoA weirdo musical called GalavantThe jokes are kinda lameBut even all the sameI'm finding that I do like Galavant!

ESTHER: I didn't think I wouldBut maybe now I couldWant a second season of Galavant!Sometimes it sort of sucksIt won't make big big bucksBut there's a kind of charm to Galavant!

HILLARY:Let's back up.Galavant is about 60 percent Robin Hood: Men in Tights, 30 percent The Princess Bride, and 10 percent Smash, meaning it is basically the perfect television series (if you, like me, are... me).

ESTHER: I'd throw some Spamalot/Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and The Court Jesterinto the mix, too. (Literally, there's a rhyme in one song that's an exact replica of one in The Court Jester, a movie I have obviously watched way too much.)

HILLARY:The songs, by Tangled duo Glenn Slater and Alan Menken, are catchy (it's so hard to keep myself from writing the rest of this review as lyrics to the show's title tune); the jokes, as mentioned before, are silly and bawdy and often kind of quaintly terrible, in a very appealing way; the performers are clearly having a great time, particularly Timothy Omundson as wicked Prince Humperdicker, I mean, King Richardand smiley Luke Youngblood (a.k.a. MAGNITUDE) as the title character's loyal squire.

If you love musicals, especially the nudge-nudge wink-wink meta-sort that have become common on Broadway over the past few decades, you'll certainly be won over by this series'throwback charm and gentle fourth wall breaking. If you don't, well, why are you reading this recap to begin with?

I sense, though, that you may not benot quite as much of a Galavant cheerleader as me, Esther. How could that possibly be?

ESTHER:Perhaps because the showseems like a stew of medieval comedy classics with some network-TV-safe innuendo thrown in, I was predisposed to dislike it. But it did growon me over the first two episodes. The songs aren't particularly original or clever, but at least one is ridiculously catchythe "Galavant" refrain from the first number keepspopping into my head.

So let's meet Galavant, shall we? He'sa sexy dude hooking up with the pretty Madalena. It seems like true, "as you wish"-style love until Madalena is kidnapped by King d**k to be his bride. In the opening number, we see Galavant galloping off to rescue his maidenonly to learn that she doesn't really want to be rescued. (She'd rather have fame and fortune over the true love stuff.) Madalena kind of sucksbut we soon realize that Galavant sucks, too. Right?

HILLARY: If by "sucks" you mean "is basically a depressive, alcoholic Gaston gone to seed," then yes, I agreeGalavant himself "sucks."

After being spurned by his twue wuv, Gal retreats into a gross 13th-century man-cave, gains weight (supposedlythe show doesn't try too hard to make post-humiliation Joshua Sasse look any heavier or more unkempt), and spends his days gnawing on turkey legs and broodinguntil the beautiful Princess Isabella Maria Lucia Elizabeta of Valencia shows up to drop a quest right into his lap.

So Galavant itself will be a redemption story, along the same lines as, oh, a billion other TV shows and moviesbut the anachronism-filled medieval setting, PG-13-rated humor, and tunes help to keep it from feeling totally tired. Asdoes the pilot's big twist: The princess is actually in cahoots with Richard, who intends to lure Galavant to him so that he can kill the guy once and for all. Did you see that part coming?

ESTHER: I didn't, only because I maybe underestimated Galavant as a show. And the reveal is actually executed in a nicely subtle way, via flashbacks that graduallymake us realize Princess Isabella Maria Lucia Elizabeta is not exactly telling the truth to Galavant. This twistalso gives the princess a nice edge. (Though I have to say, Karen David's singing voice seems at the outset to be the weakest of the show's leadsbut that's another subject altogether.)

Everyone on this show is sort of a pleasant jerk, acting for his or her own self interestwhich brings me back to Madalena, who I think I'll like more and more for her wonderful bitchiness as the series continues. She leaves the king with blue b***s!

HILLARY: Totally! Whyis this showvillainizing a woman for going after what she wants? Maybe a medieval wench can have it all! (You know, a castle, a husband who dotes on her even though she's awful to him, and a hot little jester on the side).

Speaking of which: Jester Narrator definitely has the most accomplished voice we've heard so far, and I hope Galavant gives him plenty of occasions to show it off.

ESTHER: Yes! All for more of the Jester side piece. But leaving him aside for a moment, Timothy Omundson as King Richard is definitely the cast's standoutin the pilot, at least. He gets the other big production number in episode 1, a ditty about all the ways he wants to maim Galavant. There's dancing. It's delightful.

HILLARY: It isexcept part of me couldn't help wishing this show had been written in the '80s so that Tim Curry could've played this part.

ESTHER: Oh, fair. Or that John Cleese had just done it.

HILLARY: Which, really, is our way of pointing out that Galavantmay have the same basic problem plaguing several Disney properties lately(coughONCE UPON A TIMEcough)the bad guys are a lot more interesting and fun than the good guys, at least at this early juncture. Though maybe making Galavant a comeback kid instead of a handsome, cardboard hero will help temper that.

ESTHER: Yes, Galavant's drunken, wallow-y ways actually make him more appealing as a character, if not as a potential boyfriend. I hope his transformation back to his old self doesn't happen too quickly. Even though, alas, we've only got eight episodes of the show.

HILLARY: And another one to talk about tonight! So let's move on to Part 2 of Galavant: The Stamos-ing. First, though, I'd like to ask you to name your personal pick for thepilot episode's best-worst rhyming couplet. For me, it's a dead heat between "adventure/b**t-clencher" and "twist 'em/reproductive system."

ESTHER: Oh, "b**t-clencher" was definitely going to be there for me. "Pride/genocide..al war" is also notable.

HILLARY: Not to mention the "perfection/erection" fake-out. Somewhere, Mel Brooks is knitting his fingers together and smiling.

Source: http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/galavant-premiere/

10 pictures of Chris Christie at Dallas Cowboys games (PHOTOS)

By now, it's no secret that Gov. Chris Christie's football heart bleeds Dallas Cowboys' silver and blue, instead of the more defensible Jets' green or Giants blue.

Unfortunately, that hasn't stopped fans of those teams from voicing their displeasure, nor has it quelled the criticism from Christie's fellow politicians. To these people, it's one thing for Christie to root for the Cowboys in the privacy of his living room, but bro-hugging with Jerry Jones in his owner's box? That's borderline trolling.

But despite Christie's occasionally antagonistic behavior towards fans of the Cowboys' NFC East rival Eagles and Giants (and vice versa), at least he wears his fandom on his sleeve and doesn't pander to his constituents by pretending to root for the home team. Well, at least most of the time.

Check out some photos of Christie attending Cowboys games.

10 pictures of Gov. Chris Christie at Dallas Cowboys games

Source: http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2015/01/10_pictures_of_chris_christie_at_dallas_cowboys_games_photos.html

Mario Cuomo's Wake and Funeral to Be Held in Manhattan

New York will say farewell to the state's former three-term governor, Mario Cuomo, starting with his Manhattan wake.

Visitation is at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home on Madison Avenue, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday.

Cuomo's funeral is at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Ignatius Loyola Church on Park Avenue.

Cuomo, 82, died in his Manhattan home on Thursday evening, hours after his son, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was inaugurated for a second term.

The governor spoke for the first time about his father's death publicly on Saturday, saying, "there is a hole in my heart that I fear is going to be there forever."

In the 1980s, the younger Cuomo ran some of his father's campaigns and was his adviser. The Democratic governor lost his bid for re-election to a fourth term in 1994 to Republican George Pataki.

Andrew Cuomo is postponing his state-of-the-state address until Jan. 21. It had been scheduled for Wednesday.

Exuberant and eloquent, Mario Cuomo's most memorable national moment came at the 1984 Democratic convention in San Francisco. Cuomo challenged Ronald Reagan's description of America as "a shining city on a hill" by delivering a keynote address titled "A Tale of Two Cities" ? about a country split between haves and have-nots.

Bill de Blasio used the same words when campaigning and winning New York City's mayoral race last year. The mayor said all flags in the city will be at half-staff in Cuomo's honor for 30 days.

Mario Cuomo's "tale of two cities" came from personal experience. He was the son of an Italian immigrant father who struggled to make ends meet. Cuomo, whom some called a Roman Catholic kid from Queens, never forgot his background.

He once called politics "an ugly business" and never ran for president, as some Democratic leaders pushed him to do in 1988 and 1992.

Tuesday's funeral will be open to family and friends and arrangements are being made for media wishing to attend.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/mario-cuomos-wake-funeral-held-manhattan-27998564